How long is a typical psychotherapy session and how often will I meet with my therapist?
Sessions typically start weekly and run from 45-50 minutes in length with initial intake sessions ranging up to an hour.  As you make progress in therapy you may be able to transiton to biweekly or even monthy maintenance sessions.

Are you currently offering virtual sessions?                                                                                                                                     In response to COVID-19 we have made the practice easily accessible to video and even phone sessions. Most insurance companies have also made amazing concessions to fully cover services and in some cases that includes your copay.  Online therapy may not be a good fit for everyone, for example individuals with serious mental illnesses or people with suicidal ideation are typically not good candidates for online therapy, however, your therapist will do their best to support you and help you decide if it is a good fit.

How long can I expect to be in therapy?
The length of therapy depends on many factors such as your goals, how frequently and consistently you attend sessions, your level of motivation, level of crisis, commitment and the type of concerns or issues you are addressing in therapy. In general, recent situational stresses or problems can be addressed in fewer sessions, while more complex issues such as abuse or depression can range from 6 months to a year or longer. Our belief is you shouldn’t be in therapy forever and its ok to work on an issue, end treatment, take a few check in sessions down the road, and certainly come back if you need to.  

To get the most out of therapy, come regularly and discuss your concerns and questions with your therapist.  We recommend giving it at least 3-4 sessions before making a decision to end treatment or change therapists. Please also take what you learn in sessions and practice, practice, practice.

What type of therapies do you offer? All approaches are tailored to your needs and the skill of the therapist.

PsychotherapyTherapy involves refers to a range of approaches that can help with mental health problems, emotional challenges, and some psychiatric disorders. It aims to help clients better understand their feelings, and what makes them feel upset, anxious, angry, or depressed. This can help them to cope with difficult situations in healthier ways.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) which helps to improve your mood, anxiety, and behavior by examining irrational or biased patterns of thinking. In CBT you learn the connection between your thoughts and feelings, which can influence behavior. Through new skill sets you will learn to identify and better deal with harmful thought patterns and change your reactions. Research shows that CBT is great for treating a variety of conditions, including depression and anxiety. Specialized forms of CBT have also been developed to help cope with traumatic experiences.

Informed Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) which is beneficial for those who have passive suicidal feelings/thoughts, engage in mild self-harm behaviors, or have a history of that. DBT emphasizes taking responsibility for one’s problems, coming from the stance you are doing the best you can and teaches skills like emotion regulation, mindfulness, and interpersonal skills to deal with conflict, which can be useful to everyone.

Group Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses the power of group dynamics and peer interactions to increase understanding of an issue like depression and to develop skills like emotion regulation skills. We offer one time skills groups or workshops, and groups that run anywhere from 4-6 weeks. We are currently doing online groups as well.

Why do I need a therapist? Why can’t I talk to my friend or family member? A friend or family member is not professionally trained to help you grow, heal and change. Your friends and family have probably been giving you their best advice, you probably have tried to make it work and if it were sufficient, you probably wouldn’t be reading this. Are you still struggling with issues that keep you stuck or repeating old patterns? Do you feel sadness, grief, anger, or worry? Do you experience feeling trapped, uneasy, or have difficulty making decisions? Are your relationships troubled or unsatisfying? Are you struggling at school or at work? Then therapy is probably for you. People who try therapy tend to do well, especially when actively trying by being open, asking question and following up.

How will I know if I’ve found the right therapist?

From the first free phone consultation you will get an idea if this is for you. To get a better idea, schedule the first session and see what your therapist is like as a person and as a professional.  Some things to keep in mind: How easy is it to talk, are they attentive to me, do I feel more comfortable as the session goes on, do they seem comfortable and competent in my presence. Feel free to ask questions and be open. Expect that your therapist will be exploring if you are a good fit as well. If the fit doesn’t feel good to you, then you owe it to yourself to keep looking. If the therapist feels they cannot work with you, for whatever reason, they will let you know and provide a referral to someone who may better be able to help you.

What is the cost?

Look at the money you spend on therapy as an investment in your future. The benefits you experience will justify the expense. Our private pay rate ranges from $80 to $120 per session. While that option works for clients who don’t have or want to use their insurance, we do also accept most insurances: Cigna, Aetna, Optum, United Behavioral Health, 1199 and Blue Cross Blue Shield. If your carrier is not on the list, you can contact them directly to confirm out of network benefits for mental health services. and an invoice can be provided at the end of every session that you can submit for reimbursement to your insurance company. Most people have no issues getting reimbursed a portion if not all of the fee from their carrier.

We do accept the following methods of payment: Visa and MasterCard.

Payment for therapy is made at each session and there is a $30 cancellation fee for any session that is missed or cancelled without 24 hour notice.

What can I expect in the first session when I see a therapist?

During your first meeting the therapist will ask several questions to get to know you and your reasons for seeking therapy.  We review your history, review our practice approach and polices, as well as work with you to determine if Kensho Psychotherapy Services is the best fit for you. Feel free to ask your questions at that time.  If we do not believe that it is a good fit we can assist with a referral.

If you have additional questions or are simply ready to book an appointment, give us a call at 347-868-7813 or email.